Push button switch



Sept. 5, 1967 RF. LEWAND OWSKI ETAL 3,339,428

' PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Sept. 5,1967 YF. LEWANDOWSKI ETAL 3,3

' PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. 25, 1965 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5,1967 RL F. LEWANDOWS KI ETAL 3,339,428

- PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. 25, 11965 4 Sheets-Sheet s Sept. 5, 1967R. F. LEWANDOWSKI ETAL 3,339,423

- PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed Jan. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

VENDING MACHINE United States Patent Ofiice 3,339,428 PUSH BUTTON SWITCHRaymond F. Lewandowski, Mount Prospect, and Harry S. Tice, Jr., CrystalLake, 111., assignors to Oak Electro/ Netics Corp., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Jan. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 427,602 11 Claims. (Cl. 74483)This invention relates to a push button switch mechanism, and moreparticularly to a push button switch wherein an operator manually movesa push button a predetermined distance, and the switch mechanismautomatically actuates the correct switch in response thereto,completing the operation.

The push button switch disclosed herein is particularly adapted for usein a vending machine having post selection, i.e., choice of the productto be vended after the money is deposited, although the switch is not tobe limited to such a use since many other applications are possible. Invending machines utilizing post selection it is important that the pushbutton switch mechanim allow only one basic choice of selection,rejecting further selections, and thereafter resetting when the desiredvending function has been completed. Such a switch should be constructedwith a safety feature that will not allow the vending function to beaccomplished unless the correct amount of money has been deposited inthe coin acceptor in the vending machine. A push button switch shouldfurther be adaptable to accomplish a variety of different switchingfunctions when a single push button is manually actuated by an operator.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of an improvedpush button switch for actuating one or more switches when the pushbutton associated therewith is manually actuated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a push button switch thatis especially adapted for use 'in a vending machine utilizing postselection.

One feature of this invention is the provision of a push button switchwherein the operator makes a selection by partially actuating a pushbutton and a mechanism automatically actuates the corresponding switch.

Another feature of this invention is the provision in a push buttonswitch of simplified mechanical means for preventing a desired selectionfrom being completed if a proper condition of the coin acceptor oranother monitoring devices has not been established.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a push buttonswitch wherein the actual work of switching is accomplished by means ofan electromechanical device actuated when a push button is moved apredetermined amount.

A still further feature of this invention is the provision of a pushbutton switch having a plurality of push rods,

the depression of any push rod causing a latch bar to move in responsethereto, and a solenoid operated mechanism which continues the motion ofthe latch bar after a push rod has been depressed a predetermineddistance, the latch bar thereafter actuating the switches thatcorrespond to the selected switching function.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and from the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view, partly in section, of a switch embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side view of the switch with 3 ,339,428 PatentedSept. 5, 1967 the switch cover shown in FIGURE 2 removed and with anadditional section of switching added to illustrate another embodimentof the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary exploded view showing in detail the locationof the various parts comprising one section of the push button switch;

FIGURES 6 to 9 are enlarged diagrams of a slider pin and a portion of alatch bar illustrating operation of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary top view taken along lines Ill-10 of FIGURE 3and illustrating in more detail the spring loaded slider utilized in theillustrated embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the push button switchutilized with a vending machine having post selection.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in thedrawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention issusceptible of embodiment in many different forms and it is to beunderstood that the present disclosure is to be considered as anexemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intendedto limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of theinvention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The novel push button switch disclosed herein can be employed with thenecessary number of push rods to provide the various switchingoperations desired. In the push button switch illustrated in thediagrams, three push rods have been shown, to exemplify the invention.

Turning now to FIGURE 1, three push rods, 20, 21 and 22, are slidablymounted in a frame 25. The push rod 20 is illustrated in a partiallydepressed position. The depression of any push r-od causes a latch bar26 to move in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinalmotion of the depressed push button, i.e., to the right as viewed inFIGURE 1. After the latch bar 26 is moved a predetermined distance inthe lateral direction, a cam surface 27 on bar 26 abuts an arm 29 thatrides against the edge of the bar 26. This abutment causes arm 29 toride over the cam surface 27, depressing arm 29 against a snap switch 30which is actuated thereby. Switch 30 in turn causes a solenoid 32 to beenergized by a source of electrical power (not illustrated), causingsolenoid armature 33 which is attached to latch bar 26 to be drawntoward solenoid 32.

Each push rod has a switch actuating portion, which in the preferredform of this invention is a spring loaded slider 35. The energization ofsolenoid 32 causes latch bar 26 to further move in the lateral direction(to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1). .The latch bar 26 engages theslider 35 associated with the depressed push rod in a manner that willbe later described in detail, as the bar 26 is pulled laterally, causingslider 35 to be downwardly depressed.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, extending slider portion 36 contacts an arm38 and thereby actuates a switch module 39 as slider 35 is depressed.The energized solenoid holds slider 35 in a depressed position with itsextending portion 36 pressing against switch arm 38, causing switch 39to remain actuated. When the solenoid is deenergized, a spring 40,FIGURE 1, snaps latch bar 26 back to its original position, releasingslider 35 from its depressed position. This in turn will draw theextending portion 36 of the slider 35 off switch arm 38, causing switchmodule 39 to be deactuated.

Push rod 22 illustrated in FIGURE 1 has a single switch module 41associated therewith that is actuated when push rod 22 is depressed apredetermined distance. The push rod 21 has two switch modules 39, 42associated therewith. The module that would be mounted in front of pushrod 20 has been removed in FIGURE 1 in order to illustrate in moredetail the structure of the switch. Any desired switching circuitry canbe housed in each module. The structure associated with each push rod isessentially identical regardless of the number of switch modules or theswitching circuit. A detailed description of the push button switch willnow be presented.

The push rods are formed with a U-shaped cross section but could haveany desired shape. As seen in FIG- URE 5, push rod 21 slides in twoU-shaped slots 44 and 45 formed in frame 25. Each push rod has a switchactuating portion in the form of a spring loaded slider 35 that iscaptured between an overload spring 47 and a slot shelf 47. The slider35, which may be formed from molded nylon, is movably mounted in anarrow slot 50 formed in the push rod 21.

Slider 35 has a bottom portion 52 that has a width just slightly largerthan the width of the narrow slot 50, as can be seen in FIGURE 10. Thiswidth is slightly smaller than the width of an enlarged section 53 ofthe slot 50. Between the main body of slider 35 and the bottom section52 is a section 54 of reduced cross section, having a width slightlysmaller than the width of the slot 50 as seen in FIGURE 5. Slider 35 isthus so constructed that its bottom portion 52 can be inserted throughthe enlarged slot 53 and thereafter moved downwardly into the narrowslot 50. Slider 35 is slidably held in the slot 50 between the frontportion of the slider 35 and the back portion 52.

The slider 35 is spring mounted to the push rod by means of the overloadspring 47, as seen in FIGURES 3 and 10. Overload spring 47 is heldnormally in a slightly compressed condition. The topmost section ofspring 47 is urged against a nylon washer 55 which is press fit over aprojecting tongue 56 formed in the push rod. The bottommost section ofoverload spring 47 fits over a small stud 58 that projects from thefront of the bottom portion 52 of slider 35.

Return spring 48 is encaptured between the slider 35 and a horizontalportion 60 of the frame 25. The horizontal portion 60, as seen in FIGURE5, has an aperture 44 which includes a round opening 61 which allowspassage of a leg 63 of slider 35. The return spring 48 encircles leg 63and the frontmost portion of spring 48 bears against the rear portion ofthe extention 36 of the slider, while the rearmost portion of the spring48 bears against the horizontal portion 60 of frame 25.

As a push rod is manually depressed by an operator, the overload spring47 tends to compress by the rearwardly moving washer 55, and is urgedagainst slider 35. This force causes the slider to move rearwardlyrelative to frame 25. The slider 35 is at the same time compressingreturn spring 48. Slider 35 is spring loaded in the manner describedabove to allow overtravel motion, as will become more apparent later.This feature may not be necessary in some switches and the actuatingportion could be formed as an integral projection of the push roditself.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 5, the operation of latch bar 26 whichperforms the desired switching operations will now be described indetail. The latch bar 26 extends through two molded plastic housings orguides 65 and 66. These housings allow the bar 26 to move only in alateral direction. The latch bar 26 has a plurality of apertures 68therein, one for each push rod. The exact shape of aperture 68 isillustrated in more detail in FIG- URES 6 to 9. Aperture 68 forms afirst working surface 70 and a second working surface 71 in the bar 26.The surfaces 70 and 71 are inclined to the lateral direction (arrow 72,FIGURE 7) of motion of the bar 26. A land or stop 74 is formed at oneend of the first working surface 70. The land 74 has a surface that issubstantially parallel to the direction of lateral motion.

Each slider 35 has a projecting pin 75 that normally extends just belowthe latch bar 26, as can be seen in FIGURE 3. The pin 75 further extendsthrough a longitudinal slot 77 formed in the frame 25, and which can beseen in FIGURE 5.

The interaction of pin 75 with aperture 68, which produces the lateralmotion of the bar 26 and the subsequent automatic depression of theslider 35 which actuates a switch module, can be seen with reference toFIGURES 6 to 9. In these figures a portion of latch bar 26 and thecross-section of the longitudinal pin 75 are illustrated. Thelongitudinal slot 77 formed in the frame 25 is shown by the dottedlines. Pin 75 which extends through the slot 77 is thereby restricted tovertical motion only. The latch bar 26 is mounted in the frame, aspreviously described, for lateral motion only, i.e., in the horizontaldirection in these figures.

In FIGURE 6 the latch bar 26 and pin 75 are shown in the normallyunactuated position. Pin 75 has a first position that corresponds to theposition of the spring loaded slider before its push rod is depressed,such as the position of push rod 21 or 22 illustrated in FIGURE 1. As apush rod is depressed, the overload spring 47 is urged against itsslider 35, forcing the slider downwardly. In FIGURE 7 the pin 75 of theslider has been depressed to a position where it just begins to contactthe first working surface 70 of latch bar 26. As the push rod is furtherdepressed from this position, pin 75 is urged downwardly in the slot 77against the inclined surface 70. Since latch bar 26 is movably mounted,the pressing of pin 75 on the surface 70 causes the latch bar 26 to movein a second or lateral direction, as shown by the arrow at 72.

As pin 75 is continuously urged against the inclined surface 70, latchbar 26 moves in the lateral direction. When the push rod is depressed asufficient distance, the projecting pin is located at a second position75' illustrated in FIGURE 7, causing the inclined first working surfaceto be located at the position 70'. This position of the slider pin andthe latch bar corresponds to the position of push rod 20 and the latchbar 26 illustrated in FIG- URE 1. At this position, cam surface 27 abutsthe roller arm 29 that rides on the edge of bar 26. As the push rod isdepressed further, pin 75 causes bar 26 to move further in the directionof the arrow 72, causing the roller arm 29 of snap switch 30 to bedepressed, actuating the switch. The actuation of the switch energizesthe solenoid 32, causing the solenoid armature 33 to be pulled inwardly.Since armature 33 is attached to latch bar 26, the bar 26 willautomatically be further moved in the direction of the arrow 72 shown inFIGURE 7.

As the latch bar is moved laterally by the solenoid, the second workingsurface 71 will abut the slider pin 75. Due to the incline of surface71, the pin 75 will be forced downwardly by this moving surface.Solenoid armature 33 when fully seated causes latch bar 26 to assume theposition illustrated in FIGURE 8. Pin 75 will be held in a thirdposition, as illustrated, beneath the surface 80 formed by the shape ofthe apertures 68. Thus, the slider is held in a depressed position bythe action of surface 80 on the projecting pin 75 of slider 35.

The extending portion 36, when slider 35 is latched or held by themechanism previously described, will have a position corresponding tothe position of the dotted line 36' illustrated in FIGURE 3. Theextending portion will therefore contact curved switch arm 38, forcingit out of the way in a direction to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3. Thedouble-throw contacts illustrated will therefore be switched in a mannerconventional in the art. Of course, the switch module 39 could have anydesired internal construction, and the DPDT switches are illustrated byway of example only.

In the exemplification of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1, thedepression of push rod 21 will actuate switch modules 39 and 42. Thesetwo modules are mounted adjacent each other directly in front of thepush rod. Since the extending portion 36 of slider 35 is approximatelyas wide as a push rod, as can be seen in FIGURE 1, the portion 36 whenlatched in the third position illustrated by 36' in FIGURE 3 will abutthe switch arms of both switch modules. The illustrated constructiontherefore allows either one or two switch modules to be used with eachpush rod. Of course, any switching means that can be actuated by amoving member can be utilized with the illustrated push button switch.

The push button switch illustrated also utilizes blockout sliders whichpermit the entry of only one push rod at a time into the aperture 68 ofthe latch bar 26. The blockout sliders '82 slide between latch bar 26 ina U- shaped indentation 83 in frame 25, as can be seen in FIGURES 3 and5. When a single push rod is depressed so that the pin of slider 35moves just beyond the position 75 shown in FIGURE 7, the pin extendsbetween two individual sliders 8'2, forcing them apart. This in turnforces the remaining sliders to abut each other, preventing another pinfrom being depressed, in a manner well known in the art.

The push button switch mechanism described above can be provided withadditional switching functions. In FIGURES 3 and 4 a single slidingcontact switch 85 that is operated by pin 75 is illustrated. Switch 85consists of normally closed contacts 86 and 87 and normally opencontacts 88 and 89, each having double wipe clips extending toward frame25. Pin 75 projects into an insulated member 91 that has mounted thereonconductive blades 93 and 94. Blade 93 normally electrically connectscontacts 86 and 87. As the push rod is depressed, overload spring 47urges slider 35 in a downward direction. As a result, pin 75 will forcemember 91 in a downward direction. Blades 93 and 94 slide between thedouble wipe clips of the individual contacts. As member 91 is depressed,blade 93 will move away from contact 86 opening the circuit betweencontacts 86 and 87, while blade 94 will contact 89, closing the circuitbetween the contacts 88 and 89. Of course, these contacts can be spacedapart by any desired distance so that switch 85 will be actuated afterany predetermined amount of depression of its corresponding push rod.This switch can be utilized, for example, to control auxiliaryoperations in a vending machine.

The spring loaded slider also allows a variety of overtravel switchingfunctions to be added to the basic switch. In FIGURE 8 the normal latchposition of pin 75 of slider 35 is illustrated. If the push rodcorresponding to the illustrated pin is further depressed, the overloadspring 47 will force slider 3-5 and its projecting pin 75 to a furtherdepressed position within the slot 77. As can be seen in FIGURES 3, 5and 10, the leg 63 of slider 35 is free to travel through an opening 61in the horizontal portion 60' of frame 25. The overtravel depression ofslider 35 could be utilized to actuate a momentary contact switchattached to leg 63, or a module similar to 39 could be actuated by aprojection similar to 36 but displaced so as to be at the dottedposition 36 when in the overtravel position only. A slider couldfurthermore be latched in the overtravel position in order to continueto actuate an additional switch.

One mechanism for latching the slider in an overtravel position isillustrated in FIGURE 9. A latching 6? rod is further depressed, pin 75travels downward to the position shown in FIGURE 9. At this point, pawl96 is urged over pin 75, latching the pin in the overtravel positionillustrated. As previously mentioned, additional switching could beactuated when the slider is held in the overtravel latched position.

When the solenoid is deenergized by the breaking of its energizingcircuit, spring 40 illustrated in FIGURE 1, which has been expanded bythe retracted solenoid armature 33, forces latch bar 26 back to itsnormal nonactuated position. As a result, latch bar 26 is moved in alateral direction as shown by the arrow 102 in FIGURES 8 and 9. Pin 75is freed from the latched position as surface or pawl 96 moves away fromthe pin. The return spring 48 forces slider 35 upward to its nonactuatedposition. The sudden release of the slider produces high accelerationand a resultant high shock, which is absorbed by the overload springbearing against the washer 55 which actually impinges on frame 25. Thisin turn releases any of the switch modules or auxiliary switchingdevices which have been actuated by the latched slider 35.

In many applications it is desirable to include program switching in thepush button switch, i.e., the depression of a single push rodadditionally actuates several of the switch modules associated withdifferent push rods. As can be seen in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 5, a programcam plate 104 is slidably mounted between the sliders 35 and the switchmodules. Each switch module has a tab 105 and 106 which guides the plate104. Each slider 35 has a small projection 107 which enters into awindow 109 in the cam plate 104. The shape of each window 109 determinesthe motion of program cam plate 104 when projection 107 is depressedagainst the plate, e.g., no motion, left or right motion. Windows ofvarious shapes for producing motion in a cam plate are well known in theart, and their exact disclosure forms no part of the invention.

In the windows illustrated in the diagrams, motion of a slider 35 wouldcause projection 107 to press against an inclined edge 110 formed bywindow 109 in plate 104. This causes the plate 104 to move to the leftas viewed in FIGURE 1. Other window shapes cause other projections to beencaptured and depressed by the moving plate 104. In this manner, othersliders in addition to the slider associated with the depressed push rodwill be depressed, causing a plurality of different switches to beactuated in response to the depression of a single push rod. The switchcan be easily integrated with known methods of program switching inorder to produce an extremely versatile push button switch which willprovide a large variety of different switching operations by thedepression of any one of a plurality of push rods.

In FIGURE 11 the novel push button switch disclosed herein has beendiagrammatically illustrated as used in a post selection vendingmachine. The vending machine is generally indicated by the block 115. Anexternal power source is connected to the terminals 116 and 117.Terminal 116 is connected to the solenoid 32 and through the normallyopen snap switch 30 to a cycle switch 119 in the vending machine 115.Switch 119 is connected in series with a coin acceptor 120 having anormally open switch 121 which in turn is connected to the other powerterminal 117. The operation of the vending machine in conjunction withthe cycle switch and coin acceptor is well known in the art and forms nopart of applicants invention. The cycle switch 119 is normally closedand opens momentarily when a vending operation has been completed.

When the proper coins have been deposited in the coin selector 120,switch 121 will close, connecting power to the series connected snapswitch 30 and solenoid 32. As an operator depresses a push rod by apredeterminated distance as heretofore described, arm 29 is depressed,closing switch 30 and energizing the solenoid 32. The resulting motionof latch bar 26 will actuate the switch modules 122 corresponding toboth the depressed push rod and the action of the program cam platepreviously described, producing one or more signals which will be fedthrough cable 123 to the vending machine 115. This in turn will causethe product associated with the depressed push rod to be released to thecustomer. Once the correct product has been released, cycle switch 119opens, deenergizing solenoid 32 and causing the push rod to return toits nonactuated position. If a push rod is depressed without theoperator depositing the proper amount of money, switch 121 remains openand the solenoid 32 will not be energized even though switch 30 closes.As the operator depresses the push rod, the spring loaded slider abutsthe mechanical land contained on the latch bar, preventing the sliderfrom being further depressed to actuate the switch modules 122.

We claim:

1. A push button mechanism comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rodshaving a switch actuating portion slidably mounted on said frame;electromechanical means attached to said frame and actuable when one ofsaid push rods is moved a predetermined distance to move the portioncorresponding to said one moved push rod to a new position.

2. A push button switch comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rodsslidably mounted on said frame; a plurality of switches mounted on saidframe, each switch corresponding to a push rod; a member with aplurality of surfaces, slidably mounted on said frame; means attached tosaid frame and actuable to move said member when one of said push rodsis moved a predetermined distance; means for actuating the switchcorresponding to the push rod moved a predetermined amount, said lastnamed means being engaged by one of said surfaces as said member isautomatically moved by said first mentioned means, thereby actuatingsaid switch.

3. A push button switch, comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rodsslidably mounted on said frame, movable from a first to a secondposition, each push rod having a switch actuating portion; a bar with aplurality of surfaces, slidably mounted on said frame; means actuable bya push rod at said second position to move said bar, one of saidsurfaces of said bar engaging said actuating portion and moving saidportion to a third position when said bar is moved by said means, and aplurality of switching means connected to said frame, said switchingmeans being actuated by the actuating portion when said portion is movedto said third position.

4. A push button switch, comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rodsslidably mounted on said frame, movable from a first to a secondposition, each push rod having a switch actuating portion; a bar with aplurality of surfaces, slidably mounted on said frame, said bar beingmoved when one of said surfaces of said bar is engaged by a push rodbeing manually moved from said first position; means actuable by saidpush rod at said second position to continue the motion of said bar, oneof said surfaces of said bar engaging said actuating portion and movingsaid portion to a third position when said bar is moved by said means,and a plurality of switching means connected to said frame, saidswitching means being actuated by the actuating portion when saidportion is moved to said third position.

5. A push button switch comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rods,each having a switch actuating portion, slidably mounted on said framefor movement in a first direction; a bar having an aperture therein forevery push rod, slidably mounted to said frame for movement in a seconddirection, each aperture forming first and second working surfaces insaid bar, a part of the switch actuated portion of each push rodextending into the aperture corresponding to that push rod, said firstworking surface being inclined to said second direction, said portionbeing moved from a first to a second position as a push rod is manuallymoved a predetermined distance, said part of said portion therebypressing against said inclined first working surface, moving said bar insaid second direction to an intermediate position when said portion isat said second position; means attached to said frame for sensing themovement of said bar in said second direction and actuable when said baris at said intermediate position to move said bar further in said seconddirection, said second working surface being inclined to said seconddirection, positioned to press against said part of said portion whensaid bar is moved by said means, thereby moving said portion from saidsecond position to a third position; and a plurality of switching means,each corresponding to a push rod, connected to said frame, saidswitching means being positioned to be actuated by Said portion at saidthird position.

6. The push button switch of claim 5 wherein said means includes anelectromechanical device that is actuated by an electrical voltage.

7. The push button switch of claim 6 wherein each said aperture of saidbar has a mechanical land formed in said first working surface, saidland being positioned to abut said part of said portion after said barhas moved past said intermediate position, thereby preventing furthermotion in said first direction by said portion when saidelectromechanical device is not actuated by said electrical voltage.

8. A push button switch comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rodsslidably mounted on said frame for movement in a first direction, eachpush rod having mounted thereon a spring loaded slider movable in saidfirst direction, said slider having a projection extending therefrom; abar having an aperture for every push rod, slidably mounted to saidframe for movement in a second direction, each aperture forming a firstand a second working surface in said bar, said projection extending intothe aperture corresponding to the push rod, said first working surfacebeing inclined to said second direction; said slider being moved from afirst to a second position by a spring of said spring loaded slider as apush rod is manually moved a predetermined distance, said projectionthereby pressing against said inclined first working surface, movingsaid bar to an intermediate position when said slider is at said secondposition; a solenoid attached to said frame and actuable when said baris at said intermediate position to further move said bar in said seconddirection; said second working surface being inclined to said seconddirection, positioned to press against said projection of said sliderwhen .said bar is moved by said solenoid, thereby moving said sliderfrom said second position to a third latched position; a plurality ofswitching means, each corresponding to a push rod, connected to saidframe, said switching means being actuated by said latched slider; andmeans to deactivate said solenoid, thereby releasing said slider fromsaid third position, deactivating said switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said slider can move in said firstdirection to a fourth position from said third latched position bymanually moving said push rod beyond said predetermined distance; andadditional switching means connected to said frame, actuated by saidslider at said fourth position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said bar has mounted thereon anovertravel pawl associated with an aperture, said pawl engaging saidprojection of said slider to latch said slider when said slider reachessaid fourth position, said means to deactivate said solenoid therebyreleasing said slider from said fourth position.

11. A push button switch comprising: a frame; a plurality of push rodsslidably mounted on said frame; a plurality of switches mounted on saidframe, each corresponding to a push rod; a common member slidablymounted on said frame; means moving said common member when any one ofsaid push rods is moved a predetermined distance; and means responsiveto movement of the common member for actuating the switch corremineddistance.

9 10 sponding to the push rod initially moved said predeter- 3,172,5193/ 1965 Albright et a1 221-129 3,208,373 9/1965 Bachelier 741 10 XReferences Cited 3,217,188 11/1965 Bauer. UNITED STATES PATENTS3,222,554 12/1965 Blomquist 31035 3/1937 Hoban 221 129 5 FOREIGN PATENTS6/ 1941 Wheeler 1 -5 991,082 5/ 1965 Great Britain. 5/ 1945 Thompson eta1 200--5 4/ 1954- Framhein 74-110 X WALTER SOBIN. Primary Examiner.5/1960 Dumke et a1.

1. A PUSH BUTTOM MECHANISM COMPRISING: A FRAME; A PLURALITY OF PUSH RODSHAVING A SWITCH ACTUATING PORTION SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME;ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME AND ACTUABLE WHEN ONE OFSAID PUSH RODS IS MOVED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE TO MOVE THE PORTIONCORRESPONDING TO SAID ONE MOVED PUSH ROD TO A NEW POSITION.